Supply holder for rolled material



Sept. 22, 1959 WALTER J..SIMMONS 2,905,404

SUPPLY HOLDER FOR ROLLED MATERIAL Filed Feb. 19, 1957 A 7'7'ORNEYS.

United States Patent 2,905,404 7 SUPPLY HOLDER FOR ROLLED MATERIAL Walter J. Simmons, Tokyo, Japan Application February 19, 1957, Serial No. 641,157 Claims. (Cl. 242-55.2)

This invention relates to a supply roll holder, and is more particularly concerned with a holder for rotatably supporting a supply roll ordinarily comprising a tubular core having a coil of continuous sheet material wrapped thereon from which the material may be dispensed in,

predetermined or selected lengths. The toilet tissue, paper towel and wax paper rolls are exemplifications thereof.

Supply rolls of the type herein considered are used extensively, but at least two'difiiculties of importance arise therefrom. First, there is the problem of wastage for if the roll is freely rotatable, it is very easy for an individual to withdraw a greater length of material than is actually needed, or the roll may be spun inadvertently, unwinding a length of material therefrom which is then discarded. Another problem that is akin thereto but of different character, is the theft of such rolls when used in public places, for both result in financial loss that could be avoided. Some efforts have been made in the past to avoid these difliculties, but none have been particularly successful.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved holder for supply rolls that will tend to obviate the difficulties identified above. Another object of the invention is that of providing a holder for supply rolls which prevents removal of the roll therefrom until substantially all of the material has been withdrawn from the roll, thereby permitting the core of the roll to be broken to effect its removal. Still another object is in the provision of a holder for rotatably supporting a supply roll, and which is equipped with brake means operative to retard free rotation of the roll thereby preventing excessive rotation which results in wastage of material.

A further object is in the provision of a holder adapted to be secured to a wall and to provide a rotatable support for a roll of toilet tissue or the like, the holder being characterized by having (preferably on each side thereof) a pair of telescoping membersone of which is receivable within the tubular core of a supply roll to provide the rotatable support therefor, and the other being adapted to bear against the end of the supply roll to retard its rotation-such members being resiliently urged toward the roll so that substantially no portions thereof are exposed whereby removal of the roll can only be accomplished, apart from destruction of the holder itself, by breaking the tubular core after the material coiled thereon has been depleted. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a supply roll holder embodying the invention, and in which the parts along one side thereof are shown in spaced apart relation;

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the holder, but in which certain of the parts thereof are illustrated in section, a supply roll being shown by dotted lines; and Figure 3 is an end view in elevation of the holder,

but with the cover removed to reveal the interior of the socket.

The supply roll holder as seen in the drawing comprises a generally U-shaped frame designated in its entirety with the numeral 10, having a base 11 and spaced apart legs 12 and 13 extending laterally therefrom in substantial perpendicularity therewith. If desired, reinforcing flanges 14 and 15 may extend along the longitudinal edges of the base 11 and connect with the spaced legs to rigidity the structure. The legs in the specific illustration have side walls that merge with the flanges, and a centrally disposed rib 16 may extend between the spaced side walls to reinforce the legs.

The undersurface of the base 11 is flat so that it may be placed in planar relation with a wall or other relatively flat surface, and in order to secure the frame thereto the base is provided adjacent each end thereof with a slotted opening 17 adapted to pass a screw therethrough. An elongated, perimetric lip 18 may surround each elongated opening 17, and preferably a reinforcing rib 19 extends along the longitudinal axis of the base 11 between the lips 18.

Each of the spaced legs has at the outer end thereof an enlarged opening therethrough defining an annular socket20. The circular socket Wall 21 is provided top and bottom with slots 22 and 23 that extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the base. Also, the wall 21 has a reduced thickness along the outer edge thereof to form an annular flange 24, and to form also a shoulder or stop 25 at the point where its thickness is reduced.

The brake member 26 in the form of a ring or cylindrical tube is dimensioned so as to be freely received within the socket 20, and more particularly within the opening defined by the annular wall 21. member 26 is movable within the socket along the longitudinal axis of the base 11, but is constrained against rotation by tongues 27 and 28 receivable, respectively, within the slots or grooves 22 and 23 of the socket wall 21. The ring brake 26 at its inner end has an inwardly turned flange or lip 29 having a roughened outer face provided, for example, by a plurality of outwardly extending beads or bead-like projections 30.

Slidably received within the hollow brake ring 26 for free movement along the longitudinal axis of the base is an annular plug or plunger 31 having at its inner end a closure wall or cap 32, and at its other end an outwardly extending annular flange 33 adapted to be brought into abuting relation with the inwardly turned flange or lip 29 of the brake ring, as seen in Figure 2. The closure wall 32 forms a seat for one end of a helical spring 34 that at its other end seats against a cover or closure member 35, and is constrained against lateral shifting with respect thereto by a raised annular lip 36 provided by the cover 35 and dimensioned to snugly receive the end of the spring 34 therein. Spaced inwardly from the circumferential edge of the cover 35 is an annular neck 37 snugly receivable within the opening defined by the flange portion 24 of the socket wall 21, as shown in Figure 2.

The supply roll holder, except for the coil spring 34, may be formed from any appropriate material, and the embodiment thereof illustrated is a molded plastic. The cover 35 may be secured in its position with the wall portion or flange 24 by any suitable means and, for example, may be locked in place by an adhesive or other bonding agent. The cover 35 performs the joint function of closing the socket 20 after the components have been assembled therein, and of providing a seat for one end of the spring 34.

In assembling the holder, the various components are brought together and are inserted into the socket 20 in the order of their successive displacement therefrom illustrated in Figure 1. That is to say, the ring brake 26 is Patented Sept. 22, 1959' The brake inserted into the socket with the tongues 27 and 28 thereof aligned and received within the slots or grooves .22 and 23. The plunger 31 is then telescoped into the ring rake 26, and next the coil spring 34 and cover 35 are mounted so that .the:sp1:ing 34 biases both the plunger 31 and brake ring 26 inwardly along the longitudinal axis of the base 11 and toward the .center thereof.

After assembly, the plunger 31 and brake ring 26 are telescopically movable with respect to each other, and in turn with respect to the socket wall 21 because of the telescopic movement of the ring brake therein. Inward movement ofthe plunger toward the .center of the holder is limited by abutment of the outwardly turned flange 33 of the plunger with the inwardly turned face 29 fthe ring brake, and by abutment of the tongues 27 and 28 against the ends of the longitudinally extending slots 22 and 23. The plunger 31 is movable outwardly or tcwardthe cover 35 without moving the ring brake 26. However, if the plunger is so moved outwardly, the ring brake is then free to follow if any force is exerted thereagainst because the biasing force of .the spring 34 is at such time removed therefrom.

It is clear that the legs 12 and 13 of the holder are identical, and each is provided with a socket 20 and With the various components heretofore described that are telescopically received therein. These legs are adapted to receive a supply roll 38 therebetween, which is shown by broken lines in Figure 2. The roll 38 has a .central tubular core 39 and a coil of material 40 wrapped or wound about the core. The diameter of the plungers 31 is such that they are receivable within the core 39 of the supply roll and define the axis of rotation therefor. That is, the plungers are freely rotatable Within their respective ring brakes 26 except for the frictional resistance to rotation resulting from engagement of the spring 34 against the wall 32 of a plunger, and from the engagement of the flanges 29 and 33 of the plunger and ring brake. Therefore, the plungers may rotate when material is withdrawn from the roll 38, or the core 39 of the supply roll may rotate on the plungers 31.

The ring brakes 26, and in particular the roughened annular flanges 29 thereof, are adapted to bear against the ends of the supply roll 38 and especially against the ends of the core 39 thereof. Since the ring brakes cannot rotate, they will retard rotation of the supply roll 38 against which they bear, and the frictional resistance to rotation will be amplified because of the roughened or bead-equipped faces of the brakes. Therefore, supply rolls cannot be inadvertently or even intentionally spun so as to unwrap the coiled material therefrom, and in use, the restricted rotation of the roll encourages the Withdrawal of only the needed amount of material.

The holder functions to securely mount the supply roll 38 so that the roll cannot he accidentally dislodged therefrom, and further, a roll cannot be intentionally removed until the coiled material 48 has been depleted whereupon access is afforded to the tubular core 39, and it may be broken and its removal efiected in that manner The reason that the roll 38 cannot be removed once it is mounted in the holder is that even though the plunge-rs are telescopically movable within the restricted ring brakestelescopically movable within the sockets, whereby both of these members can be retracted completely into the respective sockets to permit placement of a supply roll 38 into position between the spaced legs 12 and 13 (when the supply roll is mounted as shown in Figure '2 with the plungers and ring brakes telescopically extended), no'portions thereof are accessible and they cannot therefore beretracted'into the sockets, which is a necessary con dition for the removal as well as mounting of a supply roll.

Therefore, when a roll is once mounted, its removal can be accomplished only after the roll has been depleted, whereby the tubular core can be broken and then pulledfrom the plungers 31. It will be noted in Figure 2 that when a supply roll 38 is in position, the ring brakes .26 are necessarily retracted slightly because of the dimensional relation between the holder and supply roll. Consequently, the ring brakes-are resiliently urged against the ends of the roll by the coil springs 34 since their biasing force is transferred to the ring brakes through the abutting flanges 29 and 33 of the ring brakes and plungers.

While in the foregoing specification anembodiment of the invest-reams beenset forthanddescribedin considerable detail for purposes of making acornplete disclosure thereof, it will be'apparerittd'those'skilled in the art that various changes maybe made .in those details ,without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention- I claim:

1. In a holder for rotatably supporting a supply roll having a core and a continuous coil of material wrapped thereabout, a frame adapted to be secured'to a wall and providing spaced apart legs for receiving a supply roll therebetween, each of said legs having a socket therein, a brake member mounted within each of said sockets for movement between an extendedposition wherein they project outwardly therefrom and a retracted position therein, a plunger :rotatably mounted within each of said brake members for movement between a position wherein they project outward the refrom :and' a retracted position therein, and spring means in eachsocket ffor urging the plungers --and brake members toward their extended positions, said .brake' and plunger members being movable into their retracted :positions' to permit a supply roll tobe placed' between-said spaced apart legs.

2. In a supply roll :holder, a frame having spaced apart legs adapted to receive -a supply roll therebetween, said legs :being :provided with aligned openings therethrough :defining sockets therein, a braketring telescopicallyr'nounted within each of said sockets, aplunger-telescopically androtatably mounted within each of said brake rings, and spring means in each-socket fonurging the respective plungers and brake rings into telescopic extension wherein the :brake ring and plunger of each leg extend from the leg and into the space defined therebetween, saidplungers' -being adapted to be received within the core of a supply roll and said brake rings being adaptedto bearagainst-theends of such roll.

3. The holder o'fclaim 2 in which each of said sockets is provided with a slot therein and each'=br'ake ring equipped with a tongue receivable within such slot to constrain the ringragainst rotation and limit .the telescopic extension thereof into the space between said legs.

4. The holder of claim 3 in which each'of said brake rings is equipped with aninwardly turned flange and each of said plungers is provided with an outwardly turned flange for abutment therewith to limitthe telescopic extension of the plungers' i nto the space between saidlegs.

.5. The holder of'claim 2 in-which each of said brake rings is equipped along the inner 'end thereofwith an inwardly turned flange, and in which each of saidplungers is provided adjacent the 'outer endthere'of with an outwardly turned flange, said flanges being aligned for abutment to limit-the extent to which each plunger-is telescopically extensible into the space between said legs.

6. In a holder structure for use with supply rolls of toilet .=tissue and the like, a generally U-shaped frame having a base adaptedtobe'secured to a wall and spaced apart legs extending laterally therefrom, each of said legs adjacent the outer end thereof having an open socket therein provided with a pair of diametrically opposite slots extending axially thereof, a'ring-sha'ped brake member for each socketequipped at'its inner end with an inwardly turned fiangeland at its outer end with a pair of tongues, 'eacliof said members being telescopically receivable in the respective sockets with said tongues in said slots for constrainingthe brake members against rotation and'for limiting the extent oftheir telescopic movement to projected positions into the space between said legs, a plunger for each of said sockets equipped at its outer end with an outwardly turned flange, each of said plungers being rotatably and telescopically received within the respective brake members with the telescopic projection thereof into the space between said legs being limited by abutment of the respective outwardly turned flanges thereof with the inwardly turned flanges of said brake members, a spring for each socket seating at one end against the respective plungers to urge the plungers and brake members into extended telescopic relation wherein they project into the space between said legs, and a cover for each socket to close one side thereof and provide a seat for the respective springs.

7. In a holder of the character described, a frame having a pair of spaced apart legs adapted to receive a coreequipped supply roll therebetween, at least one of said legs being provided with an annular socket therein, a brake member mounted within said socket for axial movement between extended and retracted positions, means for constraining said brake member against rotation in said socket and for limiting the extent of projection thereof, a plunger rotatably mounted within said brake member and being axially movable therein between extended and retracted positions, means for limiting the amount of extension of said plunger from said brake member, and resilient biasing means for urging said plunger and brake member into their extended positions, said plunger being adapted to be received within the core of such a supply roll and said brake member being adapted to bear against an end thereof to yieldably resist its rotation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said brake membet is provided with a roughened surface adapted to bear against a supply roll to increase the resistance to rotation thereof afforded by the brake member.

9. In a holder of the character described, a frame providing a hollow cylindrical socket open at both ends, a cover for closing one end of said socket, a coil spring in said socket and seated against said cover, a plunger providing a seat for said coil spring and being urged thereby into an extended position projecting from the socket, a ring brake coaxial with said plunger and telescopically movable with respect thereto and telescopically received within said socket, means constraining said ring brake against rotation in said socket and for limiting the telescopic extension thereof from the socket, and means interconnecting said ring brake and plunger for limiting the projection of the plunger outwardly therefrom.

10. The holder of claim 9 in which said plunger is adapted to be received within the core of a supply roll supported by the holder, and in which said ring brake is adapted to bear against an end of such supply roll, the surface of said ring brake adapted to bear against such roll being equipped with a plurality of projections to amplify the frictional resistance to rotation of such a roll aiforded by the bearing of the ring brake thereagainst.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,929 Kearney Sept. 8, 1914 1,187,705 Calvert June 20, 1916 1,565,633 Fisher Dec. 15, 1925 1,891,629 Van Wagner Dec. 20, 1932 

